Inside Britain's 'ugliest building' — which turns out to be pretty stunning

Alex Lawrie / Lawrie Cornish
Lincoln Plaza, a high-rise residential tower block in London, was recently named the ugliest building in the country when it was crowned the winner of the Carbuncle Cup, given to the UK's worst-designed building each year by architecture site BD.

Galliard Homes sent Business Insider a statement on winning the not-so enviable accolade:

"The Lincoln Plaza scheme was designed to compliment the existing architecture of London Docklands and the striking mosaic design was created to provide a striking and fresh contrast. Architectural design is art, and like all art, a matter of personal tastes."

"The scheme sold out to buyers, so clearly the project is liked by the purchasers. Galliard Homes are committed to providing homes for Londoners and helping young people get onto the housing ladder. Each project the company delivers is bespoke and distinctive and the company has built a strong reputation for rapidly selling out due to the quality of the homes and the highly competitive prices offered."

But beauty is in the eye of the beholder. While the exterior has divided opinion, the inside of the complex, which comprises two towers, a hotel, and a round building in South Quay, is pretty stunning.

The Docklands-based tower block was designed by BUJ Architects for the property developer Galliard Homes and is just 5 minutes walk from Canary Wharf — the capital's financial and business district.

Lincoln Plaza
Alex Lawrie / Lawrie Cornish

2/

Architecture site BD hailed it as the ugliest building in the UK and said it is "a putrid, pugilistic horror show that should never have been built."

Alex Lawrie / Lawrie Cornish

3/

One of the award's judges added that the building was "in its bilious cladding, chaotic form, adhesive balconies and frenzied facades, it exhibits the absolute worst in shambolic architectural design and cheap visual gimmickry."

Alex Lawrie / Lawrie Cornish

4/

However, Galliard Homes says "architectural design is art, and like all art, a matter of personal tastes" before adding that all the homes were sold out before they were even built.

Alex Lawrie / Lawrie Cornish

5/

Galliard Homes added that "the London Borough of Tower Hamlets appointed a design committee to review the architectural plans for this site, and the design committee loved the project and its design."

Alex Lawrie / Lawrie Cornish

6/

Lincoln Plaza provides over 400 homes, hotel and leisure facilities, over 31 storeys and has a plush reception area and 24-hour concierge.

Alex Lawrie / Lawrie Cornish

7/

It also has a health club with spa pool, sauna, steam room and fully equipped gymnasium.

Galliard Homes

8/

Prices for private sale apartments started at £299,000 when the scheme was launched, significantly lower than the average London house price which is above £500,000.

Alex Lawrie / Lawrie Cornish

9/

And, as you can tell, the interiors are bright, airy, and modern with "walnut wood flooring, mood lighting and floor to ceiling glazing"— a far cry from being "ugly."